Game 4: Feb. 24 - vs. Illinois - Vincent-Beck Stadium, Beaumont, TX - 10 a.m.
Game 5: Feb. 24 - at Lamar - Vincent-Beck Stadium, Beaumont, TX - 1 p.m.
Game 6: Feb. 25 - vs. Illinois - Vincent-Beck Stadium, Beaumont, TX - 9 a.m.
Game 7: Feb. 25 - at Lamar - Vincent-Beck Stadium, Beaumont, TX - 4 p.m.
All Times Pacific Time Zone and Subject to Change
Gametracker Available
Gonzaga University Bulldogs (3-0, 0-0 West Coast)
Probable Pitching Rotation
LHP - 7 Marco Gonzales, L-L, 6-1, 185, So., Fort Collins, CO
(0-0, 5.40 ERA)
LHP - 11 Billy Moon, L-L, 6-0, 185, Jr., Spokane, WA
(Has not pitched in 2012)
LHP - 13 Tyler Olson, R-L, 6-3, 190, Sr., Spokane, WA
(0-0, 3.00 ERA)
RHP - 26 Andy Hunter, R-R, 6-6, 220, Sr., Tucson, AZ
(0-0, 6.00 ERA)
Probable Position Starters
C - 18 Maxx Garrett, R-R, 6-1, 215, Sr., Kennewick, WA
(.214, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 RBI)
1B - 7 Marco Gonzales, L-L, 6-1, 185, So., Fort Collins, CO
(.444, 1 R, 2 2B, 6 RBI)
2B - Alex Stanford, L-R, 5-10, 180, Sr., Bothell, WA
(.273, 2 R)
3B - 6 Eric Lane, R-R, 6-0, 190, Sr., Port Angeles, WA
(.467, 1 R, 2 RBI)
SS - 4 Steven Halcomb, R-R, 5-10, 165, Jr., Poway, CA
(.462, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI)
LF - 11 Billy Moon, L-L, 6-0, 185, Jr., Spokane, WA
(.071, 1 R, 1 BB)
CF - 21 Royce Bolinger, R-R, 6-2, 200, Sr., Scottsdale, AZ
(.417, 3 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB)
RF - 3 Payden Cawley Lamb, L-R, 5-10, 170, So., Buckley, WA
(.400, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI)
DH - 5 Clayton Eslick, L-R, 5-11, 170, Jr., Gilroy, CA
(.444, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 BB)
Head Coach: 28 Mark Machtolf (Stanford University, 1987)
Gonzaga Record: 235-198-1 (9th year - 23rd at GU) Career Record: Same
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University of Illinois Fighting Illini (1-2, 0-0 Big Ten)
All-time series versus Gonzaga: First Meeting
Probable Starting Rotation vs. Gonzaga
RHP - 22 Kevin Johnson, R-R, 6-3, 190, Jr., Midlothian, IL
(0-0, 23.14 ERA)
LHP - 14 Rob McDonnell, L-L, 6-1, 205, Fr., Barrington, IL
(0-1, 3.18 ERA)
Head Coach: 24 Dan Hartleb (Southern Illinois University, 1989)
Illinois Record: 182-156 (7th year) Career Record: Same
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Lamar University Cardinals (2-0, 0-0 Southland)
All-time series versus Gonzaga: Gonzaga leads 1-0
Probable Starting Rotation vs. Gonzaga
RHP - 6 Eric Harrington, R-R, 5-10, 181, Jr. Groves, TX
(0-0, 0.00 ERA)
RHP - 32 Shane Hamaker, R-R, 6-4, 238, Sr., Pasadena, TX
(Has not pitched in 2012)
Head Coach: 29 Jim Gilligan (Lamar University, 1971)
Lamar Record: 1,198-760 (35th year) Career Record: 2,008-776 (36th year)
ON THE RADIO: Gonzaga University will broadcast baseball games on the radio at home starting with the series against Pepperdine University March 30-April 1. Fans can follow the Zags on 1510 AM KGA Sports Talk radio Tom Hudson returning for his ninth season as the voice of the baseball team. Joining Hudson in his fifth season as an analyst is Gonzaga's all-time winningest baseball coach and current associate athletic director Steve Hertz.
LIVE VIDEO COVERAGE: All of the Gonzaga University baseball team's home games can be seen live on the Zags Sports Channel all-access through GoZags.com. Check out the baseball schedule page for the link to the video broadcast. As always, live stats are available for all home games and can be accessed through GoZags.com.
TWITTER: The Gonzaga University Bulldogs are on Twitter. Fans can follow the Bulldogs at Twitter.com/GonzagaBulldogs. Fans can receive inside scoop on all Bulldog athletics as well as in-game updates. The Gonzaga baseball team is also on Twitter. Visit Twitter.com/GonzagaBaseball to follow the Bulldogs.
FACEBOOK: The Gonzaga University Bulldogs are on Facebook. Visit Facebook.com/GonzagaBulldogs and click on 'Like' to receive inside scoop and photos. The Gonzaga baseball team also has a Facebook page, visit Facebook.com/GUBaseball.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING ILLINI: The University of Illinois opened the 2012 season last weekend going 1-2 in the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge in St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla. The Fighting Illini lost 13-12 to Notre Dame and to then-25th-ranked University of Louisville 4-3, but upset 27th-ranked St. John's University 9-4 in the weekend finale. The Fighting Illini pitching staff had a busy weekend as 11 pitchers made at least one appearance. Game two starter Rob McDonnell was the only member of the Illini rotation to go beyond five innings as the other two starters threw less.
ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS THE FIGHTING ILLINI: Gonzaga University and the University of Illinois have never met on a baseball field before. The two ballclubs were suppose to meet for the first time last season in Minneapolis, Minn., but the collapse of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome roof prior to the season opener caused the series to be cancelled. The Bulldogs and Fighting Illini have met in other sports, most recently in women's soccer during the 2011 season.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS: Lamar University opened the 2012 season last weekend hosting Arkansas State University in a two-game series. The Cardinals edged the Red Wolves 2-1 in game one last Friday and dominated game two 10-2 Sunday. Shortstop Aaron Olivas went 4-for-6 with a run and three RBI in the series to lead the Cardinals. Left fielder Jeff Abt also led the offensive efforts in game two by hitting three doubles and driving in three runs to help the Cardinals beat the Red Wolves. Cardinal starting pitchers Jonathan Dziedzic and Eric Harrington both held the Red Wolves scoreless in their outing. Dziedzic threw six shutout frames, Harrington threw five.
ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS THE CARDINALS: Gonzaga University and Lamar University met for the first time at the Texas Pan American Tournament in Edinberg, Texas, Feb. 3, 2006. With the game tied 6-6 in the eighth inning, Gonzaga broke the tie with a RBI single for the 7-6 win. Zach Woodward had three hits and Tyson Van Winkle drove in two runs to lead the Bulldogs offensively. Starting pitcher Donovan Patrick received a no-decision after allowing five runs, six walks and three hits in six innings of work. Nate Williams threw three innings and allowed one unearned run to get the win.
PUTTING ON THE RALLY CAP: Although Gonzaga University had swept the three-game series with the University of Nebraska in Peoria, Ariz., last weekend, it did it in dramatic fashion as the Bulldogs had to come from behind late in the game to beat the Huskers. On opening night last Friday, the Bulldogs scored three runs in the eighth inning to beat the Huskers 7-4. The next day, the Bulldogs trailed the Huskers 8-5 but scored five unanswered runs in the ninth inning to win the game 10-8. In the series finale Sunday, the Bulldogs trailed the Huskers throughout the entire game, but the Bulldogs scored two runs in the eighth inning and three in the ninth to beat the Huskers 5-4 and complete the sweep.
LANE ON A HITTING STREAK: Gonzaga University senior third baseman Eric Lane hit safely in all three games last weekend to extend his hitting streak to seven games. His hitting streak began last season in series finale at Pepperdine University May 22, 2011 and he recorded a base hit in all three games against the University of San Francisco in the regular-season finale the following weekend. He is one base hit away from reaching his career-high of eight games set from April 9-22, 2011.
ABBRUZZA MAKES STRONG DEBUT: Gonzaga University freshman right-hander Zach Abbruzza showed he is capable of being the Bulldogs new closing pitcher last weekend against the University of Nebraska. After the Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of eighth inning to take a 7-4 lead, Abbruzza came into the game in the bottom half of the eighth inning. With runners on first and second, he struck out his first batter and got the next batter to ground into a double play to end the inning. He would retire the side in order in the ninth to earn his first save. Abbruzza had to come into the game in another save situation the next night. The Bulldogs scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning and although he allowed a leadoff double, Abbruzza got help from solid defense to receive his second save.
PETERSON A SIGN OF RELIEF: Gonzaga University redshirt freshman right-hander Derek Peterson put together an impressive collegiate debut last weekend against the University of Nebraska, making two appearances and receiving a win in both of them. On opening night Friday, he struck out three batters and allowed three hits and a pair of walks in two shutout innings of relief for his first win. He closed out the three-game series Sunday by throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his second win.
GONZALES ON A STREAK: Gonzaga University sophomore left-hander Marco Gonzales' 11 straight wins is currently the second longest in the country along with two other NCAA Division I pitchers. Gonzales' last losing decision was at Texas A&M University Feb. 26, 2011, when he threw seven innings and allowed three runs in the 4-2 loss to the Aggies. Troy University's Tyler Ray 13-game win streak is the longest in the country. His last loss was to Arkansas State University on May 27, 2010.
RECEIVING VOTES: Gonzaga University enters week two of the regular season receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association poll. It is the second straight week the Bulldogs received votes from the NCBWA. The Bulldogs have never been ranked in the NCBWA's Top 30, but they have cracked the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball newspaper polls in the past.
BULLDOGS PICKED SECOND IN WCC: Gonzaga University is picked to finish second in the 2012 West Coast Conference coaches' preseason poll. The Bulldogs received 57 votes and three first-place votes. The University of San Diego edged the Bulldogs as the favorite to win the WCC title with 59 points and five first-place votes. The defending WCC champions University of San Francisco garnered a first-place vote and tallied 51 points to finish third in the poll. Loyola Marymount University captured 37 points to finish fourth. Pepperdine University and Saint Mary's College - each with 30 points - tied for fifth, while West Coast Conference newcomer BYU was tabbed seventh with 28 points. The University of Portland (23 points) and Santa Clara University (nine points) rounded out the poll.
WHO IS GONZAGA FACING THIS YEAR?: Gonzaga University will match up against five participants from last year's NCAA Baseball Championship along with opponents from 10 conferences, including the newly-improved West Coast Conference. Among the five NCAA tournament participants are Arizona State University, which reached the Super Regionals, Big Ten Conference tournament champion University of Illinois, Southeastern Conference Western Division champion University of Arkansas, Mountain West Conference tournament champion University of New Mexico and WCC champion University of San Francisco.
ROAD WARRIORS: Gonzaga University opens the 2012 season on the road for the first 15 games, but after the road stretch they will play 26 of the remaining 41 games at the Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field, the most home games the Bulldogs will have played in head coach Mark Machtolf's nine years at the helm. Last year, the Bulldogs started the season on the road for the first 18 games. Although they started the season 0-5, the road stretch turned out to be a success as the Bulldogs went 10-7-1.
RECAPPING LAST YEAR: Gonzaga University finished the 2011 season 32-19-1 overall to achieve its fourth 30-win season in five years. The Bulldogs also went 15-6 in West Coast Conference play. The Bulldogs started the season 0-5 but made a huge turnaround as the season progressed. In an unscripted moment, the Bulldogs and the University of San Francisco entered their regular-season meeting in Spokane tied for first place on the final weekend, setting up a WCC Championship Series. After the two teams split the first two games, the WCC championship was decided in the rubber match, with the Dons beating the Bulldogs 4-2.
WHAT WE LOST: Gonzaga University lost four All-West Coast Conference selections from last year's team to graduation and the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The Bulldogs lost first-team All-American and NCAA Division I ERA champion Cody Martin (drafted by the Atlanta Braves); WCC Pitcher of the Year Ryan Carpenter (Tampa Bay Rays); catcher Cameron Edman (Baltimore Orioles) and outfielder Tyler Chism (Kansas City Royals). The four Bulldogs began their road to the major leagues last summer. The Bulldogs also lost outfielder Chris Sturdivant, pitcher Mark Phillips and infielder Keegan Acker to graduation.
